Chapter 11: Great Chase in Port Island (Part 2)

Naoya Toudou

Near Afternoon – 10/11/2012 – Club Escapade, Paulownia Mall, Tatsumi Port Island

St Hermelin Persona users VS Nyarlathotep(Blood Geisha form)

Currently standing on the broken stage, Nyarlathotep complete his transformation with a figure of a female body, clothed with a big black kimono patterned with yellow and green colored flower on it. While his left arm was female's hand and still holding the compendium book, a black tentacles flow out of his right armpit, continue to waggle like an octopus. He still bears the face of Mitsuru, except the face is painted in grey and there's nothing but hollow in 'her' eye and mouth, added with non-stop blood slowly flowing from 'her' hollow eye.

"Thanks, Nyarla-chan, you just make me lost my appetite for another 3 days." Naoya said while covering his mouth, forcing himself not to puke. "Could you at least…change the face to…you know, more monster-like? The woman's face doesn't suit you at all. I know you wanna look pretty, which failed horribly of course, but still…"

"Oh god! I'm going to have a nightmare tonight!" Hidehiko said, wiping his mouth with his sleeve after puking at the corner of the hall for the second time.

"The faster we defeat him, the faster he disappears. Let's not waste anymore time!" Yukino shout to the group, begin to summon her persona, "Durga!"

The Hindu goddess of war, Durga emerge from Yukino's body. At that time, she takes out her razorblade from her small bags and throws it at Nyarlathotep , simultaneously with her persona's attack, "Ziodyne!"

From one of Durga's 10 arms, one of it lifts, summoning a heavy thunder from her finger and inflicts it to the razorblade, greatly increasing the speed of the blade and shooting right to Nyarlathotep's chest. But the electricity, however, didn't stagger him at all. Instead, the hole that formed on his chest is quickly recovered.

"Electricity won't work!" Naoya warn the team and turn to Nanjo, "Nanjo, try to use almighty attack!" Nanjo, long prepared for his persona, lifts his arm to the air, "Aizen Myouou!"

Instead of his ultimate persona, Yamaoka, Nanjo summon his initial persona, Aizen Myouou, and this greatly surprise Naoya. "Nanjo, where's your butler, Yamaoka?! We need your butler right now, you understand?" Naoya shout, slightly surprise to see everyone using their initial persona even though they can use their ultimate persona.

"Would you please don't talk to me for like… an hour?!" Nanjo scream at Naoya, while swearing to himself that he prefer choose to kill Naoya instead of Nyarlathotep, "I choose not to burden him any more after becoming my persona. Happy? Now focus! Sonic Punch!"

Aizen Myouou launches a moderate damage strike at Nyarlathotep with his punch. Although the attack manages to give a little damage, Nyarlathotep fend him off by launching his wind skill from his tentacle arm, "Too weak, Bloody Fan Swing!"

Including Nanjo's persona, everyone was thrown back by Nyarlathotep's heavy wind attack. Hidehiko was thrown back the farthest, right to the club's exit door and outside. When he looks again outside, he saw the Shadow Operative is busy fighting someone with their persona, and he immediately crawl back inside.

"Naoya, bad news! All friends of Miss Kirijo are fighting someone else outside, and they are using persona! And there's a robot too!" Hidehiko shout to Naoya.

"Great, just great! You just have to bring another one of your ally with you, damn it Nyarl- huh, robot? A-anyway, you have done nothing but keep destroying people's life!" Naoya shout at Nyarlathotep, but he quickly respond.

"Me? Don't be a fool, 'emperor'! You know about the Four Horsemen better than anyone else!" Nyarlathotep point the fact, "Don't pretend you don't know! From the very beginning before I started all this, Conquest has specifically picks this year as the year where everything shall end!"

Naoya grit his teeth in sudden anger and walk toward him. "No, you're a liar! You're the one that give the idea of the 'Four Horsemen' to him. Conquest, or so you call him…, doesn't think about destroying the world until you personally meet him!" Naoya scream furiously, to the surprise of all his friends. "N-Naoya?" Eriko ask in worry after seeing him become seriously angry for the first time since they meet him again for 10 years.

"It won't change the fact that he WILL destroy this world, what I did is simply ask him to make the Judgement Day arrive earlier than it should! If there's one should be blame for the end of the world, it will be all you humanity!" Nyarlathotep end his sentence with another skill and takes out one of the cards from the compendium book, "Dark Alice: Brain Bender!"

Nyarlathotep shatter the card on his left hand, summoning a reverse version of Alice while raising his tentacle on the other hand to fuse his power with Dark Alice. With Dark Alice charm power and Nyarlathotep's attack power, the skill form into purple giant sphere ball and aim right for the team. The entire team was inflicted with both charm ailment and heavy darkness damage. "What is that skill? He combines his power… with a persona?" Yukino weakly said.

"Gabriel!" Eriko summon her persona to launch her skill, "Refresh Ring!" Gabriel emerges from her body and releases a wave of energy, recovering the entire team from the ailment.

"My turn, Loki!" Margaret summons one of her persona inside the compendium book and shatters it by closing the book, "Bufudyne!"

Loki is summoned from the card and launches large ice damage at Nyarlathotep. The huge block of ice is send crashing down to Nyarlathotep's body, smacking him right on the face. But the ice, however, is shattered to millions of ice dust by the swing of his tentacle arm, instantly turn it into water and absorb it to his black kimono. "Ice attack doesn't work, he will absorb it!" Margaret warns the team. "How about this? Tyr!" Hidehiko connect the attack by summoning the Norse god of war.

Tyr, with his long sword, marches to Nyarlathotep and swing his blade toward him. On the first swing, Nyarlathotep easily dodge the blade by slamming his body to the wall on the broken stage to avoid the slash. But on the second swing, Tyr successfully cut through Nyarlathotep's tentacle arm, ripping off the tentacle and let it continue to waggle on the floor.

"Don't stop the attack, Vishnu: Maha Agidyne!" Naoya command as he summon Hindu god of preserver and cast large fire damage.

"All right, Heat Wave!" Eriko summon Gabriel to deal small slash damage at Nyarlathotep.

"This will finish you, Thunder Inferno!" Yukino summon Durga to deal high fire damage.

"Go, Makakaja!" Nanjo summon Aizen Myouou, increasing all his friends element power times two.

"Leave it to me, Zandyne!" Hidehiko launch another skill using his persona to deal heavy blast attack.

"I will never surrender to humanity, Dance of Dead!" Nyarlathotep counter by spinning his body, the flower pattern on his kimono suddenly came off from the kimono and become real, thus inflicting a powerful blood water explosion, while spiral his own body and shielding him-self with a spiral blood. Nyarlathotep manage to repel the attack from Gabriel and Tyr, but the shield of blood suddenly destroyed when it was hit with Vishnu and Durga fire attack. The entire black kimono is burn without halt and spreading it faster, dealing a large damage on him.

"He's weak to fire attack!" Margaret shout, finally exploit his weakness. "Then I can already finish him off, "Amon Ra!" Naoya launch his final attack by slamming his hand to the ground, "Sun Disk!" Amon Ra raises his wand up and launches an extremely large fire attack to Nyarlathotep. What's left of Nyarlathotep is that his entire body is covered in flame, even his black kimono is almost burn to ash.

"Extraordinary, 'emperor'! No wonder you are one of the man of prophecy! But I will take my leave to take something else…hahahahaha!…" Nyarlathotep smirk in creepy voice, and he quickly jump from the broken stage (now completely burned in flame), and march toward the group… or so they thought. With the fire on his body begin to dissolve into smoke, pass through the team and make his way toward the exit door. "He's trying to get away!" Margaret shouts, rushing to the door while everyone else is regaining their stance.

Aigis

Near Afternoon – Main Hall, Paulownia mall

Shadow Operative VS Takaya

"You can't hurt me with that!" Labrys said as she repels a few bullets shoot by Takaya's revolver with her axe. "Ariadne!" Labrys summon her persona and lunge toward Takaya with full force. "Be careful, Labrys, he has no weakness and strong element, but he can absorb light and almighty damage and reflect darkness!" Fuuka warn Labrys about Takaya's status with her analysis.

"You people are too naïve, Hypnos!" Takaya clutch his head to summon Hynos and his persona quickly grabs Ariadne's string of maze with his hand. Using full force, Hypnos pulls the string, swinging Ariadne along with it. With his spine-like wing, Hypnos flies up high to the air and quickly zooms down to the ground with the string still in his hand, pull Ariadne up to the air before slamming her hard to the ground in front of Labrys.

"Arghhh!" Labrys give a cry by the damage she took from her persona before it disappears. "I'll help you, Athena!" Aigis rush to Labrys's side and summon the Greek goddess of war to cover for her. With her giant shield, Athena covers Aigis and Labrys to block the second move by Takaya.

"Maziodyne!" Hypnos begins to launch another attack by using electricity to all party members. Aigis and Yukari are heavily damage by the attack, Junpei and Ariadne was simply staggered for a moment while Akihiko easily block the attack.

"Caesar!" Akihiko takes out his Evoker and marches toward Takaya at the same time he pulls the trigger at his temple, "Fist Master!" Strengthen with the power of Caesar, Akihiko swing an uppercut with his right hand at Takaya's chin. To Akihiko's surprise, Takaya easily stop the uppercut by locking Akihiko's fist with the palm of his right hand. "You're getting stronger, but not strong enough." Takaya said as he gives the deadliest stare towards Akihiko.

"Maybe not alone, but together, we can!" Yukari's voice is heard not far from the two of them. Takaya turn to his left to see Yukari is standing by with her Evoker. "Give me your strength, Isis!" Yukari pull the trigger, summoning the Egyptian goddess Isis. Quickly equipping her bow, Yukari stand by with the arrow and command Isis, "Garudyne!"

Preparing her arrow with the heavy power of the wind, Yukari release her hand from the string and shoot right at Takaya's head. "Too slow!" Takaya comment as he tilts his head backward, avoiding the wind arrow that is just inches away from razor-clean his beard. Unexpectedly to Takaya, Akihiko take this opportunity to counter. With his fist still lock at Takaya's hand, Akihiko pull his right arm to bring Takaya's head closer to him.

"HARGHHHH!" Akihiko shout at the top of his lung and give the most powerful head-butt in his life right to Takaya's forehead. "Arghhh!" Takaya scream in pain, jerking his head backward and drop his body to the ground, his revolver was thrown not far from him. Akihiko take another opportunity by jumping above Takaya, rapidly punching him on the face.

"Where's Mitsuru?!" Akihiko force him to answer as he stop punching and pull him by his collar. "Hehehe… she's on 'top' of the 'Tartarus', currently sleeping." Takaya calmly answer, as if the punch didn't injures him at all. "More detail! Tartarus had disappeared two years ago at this Island, so how can she possibly be on top of it?!" Akihiko scream, feels that he has waste enough time. "And do you mind telling me, what happen to Tartarus when it changes back to daytime?" Takaya smirk.

"Could it be…Gekkoukan High School?" Fuuka solve the mystery, "That's it! Kirijo-senpai is on the rooftop of Gekkoukan High School!" "But what does Nyarla…ummm…Nyarlatotop mean by 'enjoying her last dream'?!" Junpei ask curiously, unable to remember Nyarlathotep's name. Still feeling unsatisfied, Akihiko turn to Takaya and interrogate him again.

"What did you do-" Bang! Akihiko was unable to finish his word when Takaya shoot pass Akihiko's neck after reach for his revolver during Fuuka's distraction, leaving a deep gash on Akihiko's left neck. Sensing the distraction, Takaya kick Akihiko in the stomach and freed himself from Akihiko's grip. "Akihiko-senpai!" Aigis, Labrys, Yukari, Junpei and Fuuka call for him. "Damn you Takaya, Trismegistus!" Shout Junpei as he reaches for his Evoker and pull the trigger at his temple.

Trismegistus emerged from Junpei body, sending himself fly toward Takaya to deal a slash damage. "I'm coming too, Minotaur Horn!" Labrys assist Junpei by summoning Ariadne. Using her string of maze, Ariadne creates a horned bull shape with maze design, dealing heavy almighty attack toward Takaya along with Trismegistus.

"Hypnos!" Takaya manage to stop the two personas on time before reaching him by summoning Hypnos. Hypnos is easily overpowering Trismegistus and Ariadne, first he clam Trismegistus blade arm with both his hand, and then Hypnos swing his body and throw it to Ariadne's horned bull, making both persona disappear.

"Let me finish this, Megidolaon!" Takaya launch a severe almighty attack, deciding to finish the Shadow Operative off. "I will protect my friend, God's Shield!" Aigis counter with her persona, launching severe strike attack. Athena and Hypnos eventually clash shield and hand on the air, storming the entire Mall with its wave and throw everyone backward. The clash however ends with Hypnos overpowering the clash, making Athena disappear. Aigis pant in tiredness, but Takaya still shows no sign of losing stamina.

"We can't win like this, not when Mitsuru, Ken and Koromaru are not here with us!" Yukari said, somehow starts to admit defeat. "You're right, you can't win against me. I might as well get down to business." Takaya said, as he slowly walks toward the fallen Aigis. "What…what do you want?" Aigis ask in a weak voice.

Everyone quickly turn to Club Escapade door when they hear a loud crash from it. The Shadow Operative shiver in fear when they saw the horrifying face, non-stop blood dripping to the ground and burned state of Nyarlathotep rush out of the club, follow by Margaret and the entire St Hermelin persona users. Takaya, realizing the situation, take a few steps backward from Aigis.

"YOU!" Nyarlathotep shout in deep voice and stare directly at Aigis who's lying on the ground. In a blink of an eye, Nyarlathotep use his now fully grown tentacle to choke Aigis by the neck, raising her up to the sky as he begin to float high in the air. "AIGIS!" Labrys scream in fear to see Nyarlathotep choking her sister. "Don't let them interfere with my plan!" Nyarlathotep give his command to Takaya who reply instantly, "Do not fear, lord Nyarlathotep, I'll hold them back, Hypnos!"

Takaya once again summon Hypnos, facing all the persona users in front of him. "You wouldn't dare." Naoya said to Takaya, pointing his sword at him. "I don't care who you are, just stay away from my fight, I'm still not done with him."

"You don't scare me at all, 'emperor', you was the one who should stay away from us. You can have lord Conquest all by yourself, but stay away from lord War and lord Death." Takaya calmly said, make Nyarlathotep grin in victory.

Nyarlathotep begin to open the compendium book, letting a bright blue light to emit from the inside. "Hahahaha! Poor 'machine', I was planning of taking you to become sacrifice for Death only on the day before his arrival, but I change my mind. I decide to make things easier by 'keeping' you first and-" Nyarlathotep begin to laugh, but suddenly stop when he take a good look at Aigis, "Wait, where is it?! I can't sense it anymore! Impossible!"

Nyarlathotep tighten his choke and forcing Aigis to talk, "Where is it?! Where's the 'piece'?! I know you have it when I saw you back at the tournament, I can still sense it that time! But now, I don't sense it… I DON'T SENSE IT ANYMORE!"

Everyone become curious to see Nyarlathotep scream in anger, even Takaya himself. "What…what are you talking about? What 'piece'?" Aigis weakly answer, but is replied with a scream to the face by Nyarlathotep. "DON'T PLAY FOOL WITH ME! I need the 'piece' inside you, the piece of the 'Universe', the power of 'butterfly'!" Nyarlathotep states the fact to her.

'Wait, could he mean… Minato's Wild Card?' Aigis thought to herself, 'I did give it to Elizabeth last month, and I don't have it with me. But…why does he want with Minato's Wild Card? …No, I must not tell him anything!' Aigis show a determined look to Nyarlathotep as a sign she will not tell him anything.

"If you don't have the 'piece', then you're just a trash!" Nyarlathotep scream in anger, ready to finish off Aigis. All of a sudden, Nyarlathotep feels that the compendium book is slipping out of his left hand. He turns to see a multiple velvet string is attaches to the book, pull by none other than Margaret who's pulling the string that link to her own compendium book. "It's time for you to give me back my sister's compendium book!"

"No, I'm not finish yet! If I can't use my 'butterfly' power to awaken Death, I will use the power of the 'Universe' itself!" Nyarlathotep respond by pulling it back, trying to cut the string off. "You need some help? Hieroglyphein!" Naoya ask when he saw Margaret's struggling and summon his persona.

From the bright light emit from Amon Ra's wand, Nyarlathotep scream in agony, releasing both the compendium book and Aigis from his grip. "Aigis!" All the member of the Shadow Operative call for her and rush to her side. She is on the floor after falling to the ground from Nyarlathotep's grip. Everybody feel relieve when Aigis regain her consciousness. On the other hand, Margaret is hugging Elizabeth's compendium book tightly, as if she don't want to let go. "Thank you… Naoya Toudou, the 'emperor'." Margaret's said to Naoya before she drops herself to the ground, letting her tears to flow down her cheeks.

"Give me back the book!" Takaya shout to Margaret, but his is answered with the killing intent of all persona users at the hall, making him step backward. "That's enough! She doesn't have the 'piece', let's retreat for now!" Nyarlathotep order Takaya, and he quickly nod in agreement. From Nyarlathotep's body, a black mist begins to surround the hall, blinding the vision of everyone. When the mist is lifted however, Nyarlathotep and Takaya are nowhere to be seen.

"Let us not waste anymore time, we need to save Mitsuru-senpai!" Fuuka nervously said. "Come on! Let's go to the Gekkoukan high school right now!" Junpei shout. They stop but turn to Nanjo when he asks them, "Wait, where's the supposed third man of prophecy, Yu Narukami?"

Yu Narukami

'Tartarus floor', TV world, Tatsumi Port Island

Investigation Team VS Adachi

Yu's initial persona, Izanagi, emerge from his body. Adachi can only laugh sinisterly to see his persona, "Is that what you use to fight me? How pathetic! THIS is a true persona!" A glow yellow card begins to appear above his right shoulder and he shatter it by lift his gun on his right hand and shoot it, "Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien!"

Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien
"The birth of this world shall stop…Everything must be lead back to chaos!..."
Arcana: Hunger
Evolved version of Magatsu Izanagi, possibly evolve by the power of Strife himself. The appearance is almost identical to Izanagi-no-Okami, but with blazing red and black palette. As said from the word 'Eien', means eternity, he is thus the most powerful Reverse persona so far.

Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien emerges from Adachi's body, giving an immense aura to the team. "We don't have any choice but to use our weapon and almighty attack!" Rise reminds everyone about the analysis from their first battle. "I'm on it, Rise-chan, I will not repeat the same mistake again, Izanagi-no-Okami!"

Izanagi transform himself into Izanagi-no-Okami and lunge to his darker counterpart. The battle finally begins as both their spear clash into each other, giving a spread of small fire from their metal spear. "Now we're talking!" Adachi smirk and he command his persona to repel Yu's persona attack.

"Yosuke, Kanji, Teddie, now!" Yu give his order when Izanagi-no-Okami back away from Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien.

"Got it! Masukukaja!" Yosuke summon Susanoo, increase the agility of all party member.

"I'll crush you! Matarukaja!" Kanji summon Rokuten Maoh, increase the attack of all party member.

"I'm all fire up! Marakukaja!" Teddie summon Kamui, increase the defense of all party member.

With agility, attack and defense increase, Yu allow Naoto to take the first move. "All yours! Yamato-Takeru!" Naoto summon her persona, allowing her to launch large physical attack, "Deathbound!" Yamato-Takeru quickly dashes toward Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien to slash him with his sword, but unsuccessful.

Successfully avoiding the sword from Yamato-Takeru, Magatsu-Izanagi-no-Eien gain the opportunity to thrust Yamato-Takeru's body with his spear, allow him to disappear. "Urgh!" Naoto give a small cry in pain. "Fight me! Agidyne!" Yukiko summon Amaterasu and launch a large fire attack at Adachi. "Yukiko, element attack won't work! Oh well, Rainy Death!" Chie support Yukiko's attack with Suzuka Gongen, launching a large physical damage at Adachi.

"Hahahaha! Don't you get it? I'm undefeated! Magatsu Tensei!" Adachi command Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien. While two personas still marches against him, Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien thrust his spear to the ground. All of a sudden, the ground begins to shake heavily and shoot out dozens of long black blade from the ground, dealing a severe slash attack to the entire group. Amaterasu and Suzuka Gongen disappear in instant upon the sudden blade that stabs them, canceling their attack. Even Susanoo, Rokuten Maoh, Kamui and Izanagi-no-Okami disappear by the blade.

"Persona Change!" Yu recall his persona and change it before shatter the card in front of him, "Pyro Jack!" In a blink of an eye, Pyro Jack emerged from his body. Swinging his lantern, Pyro Jack begins to emit a large fire ball from his lantern, expanding it before throwing it at Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien. Adachi laugh again when his persona easily repels Pyro Jack's fire ball with his spear. "What kind of attack is that? I told you it's no use-"

Adachi is not able to finish his word when he felt a deep cut from his left shoulder. Yu is standing right in front of him, slashing his sword at Adachi's shoulder and letting his blood flow down his janitor's cloth."Got you!" Yu smirk, satisfied that the distraction from Pyro Jack is successful. "D-damn you!" Adachi screams, pointing his gun at Yu's face.

"Yu-senpai!" Naoto shout at him, raise her gun and shoot the right shoulder of Adachi. "You're not getting away, Adachi!" Yu said, quickly grab Adachi's right wrist that hold the gun, struggling to release the gun from his hand. It was unsuccessful at first, but Adachi feel the damage by kunai that were thrown to his leg by Yosuke, losing his balance and falls to the ground.

Stood at the perfect position, Yu grab his head and knee it, sending him far backward, making his persona become half transparent from the damage taken by his owner. "Persona Change!" Yu change his persona back to Izanagi-no-Okami and launch his finishing blow. "Ultimate skill: Myriad Truth!"

Izanagi-no-Okami begin to spin his spear 360 degree, charging all his power into his spear and release an extremely powerful shinning blast attack at Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien from his spear. Adachi, quickly recover from his fall, command Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien to launch his finishing blow, "Ultimate skill: Myriad Lies!" Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien begins to spin his spear 360 degree, releasing an extremely powerful dark blast attack to counter Yu's finisher.

The collision between two blasts are so strong that the entire hall slowly begins to break apart, making the entire Investigation Team panic of the possibility of falling when they saw the bottomless pit underneath the hall. "Quick, summon your persona!" Rise warns the team. The group is eventually lifted to the air carried by their persona, leaving Yu and Adachi at the broken hall to continue to clash each other blast. "Yu!" Yukiko call for him, but it was all in vain because Yu is focusing all of his attention on Adachi.

Then, a strange thing happens. A black fog begin to surround Izanagi-no-Okami and Magatsu Izanagi-no-Eien, canceling both skill by exploding a small black blast between them, making Yu and Adachi thrown backward to the ground. When Yu look back at Adachi, he saw the same black silhouette that appears in TV world back at Inaba, 'floating' besides Adachi. "T-that entity, he has an extremely powerful aura! I can't read his power at all!" Rise said in fear, surprising the entire group. They slowly descend back to the ground with their persona when the ground finally stops breaking apart.

"Lord Strife, I can handle him myself!" Adachi said as he regaining his stance. 'So he's lord Strife, then he must know where's Marie is.' Yu thought, regaining his stance and walk toward the black silhouette. "I'm Yu Narukami, one of the four man of prophecy. I take it you're lord Strife, one of the Four Horsemen." Yu confidently said, trying to cover his tiredness. "However, I shall not fear you, I want you to tell me where do you hide Marie."

"How dare you talk to lord Strife in that manner!" Adachi scold, "Do you know who you talk-"

"Silence!" The black silhouette silencing Adachi, making him quickly bows in apology. The black silhouette changes his attention to Yu.

"Do not worry, Izanami is currently resting herself at somewhere safe, waiting for the day of my true arrival. Soon, at the end of the world, you can finally be together with her, Izanagi."

Only then Yu realize that the black silhouette is actually talking to Izanagi-no-Okami that floats above him. Yu become even more surprise when Izanagi suddenly respond to his statement.

"But why sacrifice this world for that reason? I want to redeem my mistake for breaking my promise to her, but not like this…" Izanagi said to the black silhouette, only to be reply by him.

"This is the fate of the world, Izanagi. Even if you and Izanami deny it, this world are full of negative emotion, there is no other choice but to end this world to permanently annihilate it."

"You're wrong, I have seen the heart of humanity… and this boy." Izanagi lower his head to observe Yu, "There's still hope in this world, this boy has prove it to Izanami that he can indeed, change the world." Yu smile when he heard Izanagi praise his determination.

"…It's up to you to believe what you think is right, but I hope that we will never have to cross path in the future. I bid you farewell…" The black silhouette begins to cast a heavy black fog, disappear instantly with Adachi. Izanagi remain silent, as if he's having his own thought and worry but disappear after that.

"He escapes again!" Kanji shout in anger. "Forget about that. Anyway, Yu, did your persona knew about Strife? They're having a conversation like they know each other too well. But WOW! Is it just me or that entity Adachi refer to as lord Strife was actually nicer than I thought? He even told us that Marie is fine! Of course, he didn't tell us where's Marie, but still…" Yosuke ask, but Yu just shook his head in respond, unable to understand Strife's action himself. 'I really need to use the Contact Card later and ask Izanagi myself.' Yu thought.

"Anyway, let's get out of here. The others might be worry about us. Give us the door, Teddie." Naoto said, felt chill run down her spine. "You got it!" Teddie summon a stack of TV in front of them and they carefully walk through it.

Tatsuya Suou

Heavy rainy – Afternoon – Moonlight Bridge

Tatsuya Suou & Maya Amano VS Tatsuya Sudou

"HARGGHHH!" Tatsuya start the first move by charging into Sudou's stomach, pushing him until the edge of the bridge, inches away from falling into the deep water. To counter it, Sudou stretches both his arm around Tatsuya's waist and lifts his body up into suplex position. Sudou drop his body along with Tatsuya to slam him, Tatsuya's neck is slammed to the tarred ground that begin to become wet by the heavy rain.

"AHHH!" Tatsuya scream in pain, swear that he just broke his neck. Still trying to regain his stance, Sudou lift his leg and kick Tatsuya's back of the head to the ground. "Hahahaha! How does it feel to be on someone's mercy?" Sudou twist his feet upon Tatsuya's head. 'He's stronger than what I expect!' Tatsuya thought to himself.

"Let my husband go! Artemis!" Maya raise her hand and summon her persona, "Bufudyne!" From her hand, Artemis creates a large block of ice and sent it straight to Sudou, giving him no time to avoid it. Amplify by the heavy rain, the large ice become bigger and slam onto Sudou's face, making him step backward to the edge of the bridge.

"Grrrrr! You think you can have a happy life together? That is all f**king bullshit! You can't escape from the wrath of Four Horsemen! They will kill you, all of you!" Sudou shout, recovering his stance by hanging his arm on the edge of the bridge. As Tatsuya recover his stance with Sudou, Sudou begin to raise his hand to the air and scream, "Hephaestus!"

Hephaestus
"I am thou…Thou art I… From the sea of thy soul, I come to assist you…I am Hephaestus, the god of blacksmith and fire that crafted the weapon of god…"
Arcana: Sun
Sudou's new persona. The greek god of blacksmith and fire, one of the Olympian gods. All the great weapons used by Olympian god were crafted by him. He heeds Sudou's call and become his persona due to his former persona, Reverse Vulcanus, is the Roman counterpart of Hephaestus himself.

Hephaestus stood tall above Sudou when he emerges. He has a dark red mask his face, wearing sleeveless grey inner cloth. He has a dark red skin and is shoeless. On his right hand, he holds a large silver hammer and a silver breastplate on his chest. His size is taller and muscular than Apollo is.

"A new persona?!" Tatsuya shout in disbelief. "Show me your persona, Tatsuya!" Sudou demand him to call Apollo as Hephaestus give a loud roar and shrouded his self with a boiling hot fire on his body, so hot that the heavy rain that pour down his body is instantly turn to gas, spreading heavy smokes surrounding Sudou's body.

"What's he doing? I can't see him with the smoke!" Tatsuya said, feeling uneasy with every second. Tatsuya turn to Maya to check on her, "Maya, are you oka-" He was unable to finish his word when he hear a scream from the smoke. "Weapon Smith!"

Tatsuya shift his attention to the now visible Sudou who's raising his long sword to his persona. The long sword begins to float from his hand and is grabbed by Hephaestus. With the sword in his left hand, Hephaestus swings his hammer to the sword, turning it into boiling hot color and liquid state. In a matter of second, the hot liquid change it appearance into shotgun and slowly lower the temperature by the rain. Once the shotgun truly forms itself, Sudou reach his hand for it and point it at Tatsuya and Maya.

"He's changing his sword into shotgun!" Tatsuya shout in panic, "Maya, RUNNN!" Bang! Tatsuya scream to Maya, even though he know she won't make it in time to escape Sudou's shotgun as he heard a sound of bullet being release from Sudou. In that tense situation, Tatsuya unconsciously call for his persona, "Apollo!"

From Tatsuya's body, Apollo emerges and marches toward Maya with the speed of light to block Maya from the shotgun bullet. The bullet pierce into Apollo's body, but still give the impact of the strong bullet to Maya who stand behind him, throwing herself back to crash at one of the car's window. "Arghhhh!" Tatsuya scream in pain, tightly grab his shirt at his chest as he fall down to his knee to the ground. "So heroic! Hahahahaha!" Sudou laugh madly when he sees both of them lying on the ground. "I can give you credit for that!"

"He's not the only one that can save people! Hypnotic Wave!" Maya quickly summon Artemis to dealt sleep ailment at Sudou. "What…what have you…" Sudou said his word as he slowly closes his eye, "No…no…grrrr…" Sudou clutch his head and slowly drop his body on the ground, letting the rain continue to pour down his body as his persona disappear.

"Tatsuya!" Maya rush to his side but watch her step at the same time as she run on the slippery tarred ground. She pulls him up with one arms, allow him to stand on his two feet. "Ma…Maya…" Tatsuya said in a weak tone, even Maya is unable to see his expression due to his long wet hair closing his face by the rain, "I'm…I'm sorry…Because of my sin, you have to endure the loss of me when myself from 'other side' leave my body…"

"Don't you say that, Tatsuya!" Maya scold him by looking directly at his face that covers by his hair, "Remember the day you proposed to me? Even when I'm suffered because of your loss, I'm so happy when you said you want to marry me, because I know I can…I can make a new memory with you as yourself from 'this side'." Even when she tries to show a smile and the rain pour down her cheeks, Tatsuya know the tears of his wife. He quickly throws himself at Maya to hug her, ignoring some time to pass for them.

"Stop with that f**king drama!" They both startle by Sudou's voice and turn to see him regaining his consciousness by the sleep ailment, "That happiness are nothing but lies! If Nyarlathotep can't make you give up that dream, perhaps he can show you the truth about human's true shadow!" Sudou raise his arm again to the air, "Supernova Kaiser!"

Hephaestus emerged again and flies to Tatsuya and Maya to swing his hammer at them, dealt extremely large almighty + fire attack. "No, I will not give up this dream, not when I live!" Tatsuya respond as he use his hand to lift his hair on his face, restyling his hair into his original style and release himself from Maya. He calmly summons his persona and counter Hephaestus's attack, "Nova Cyther!"

Apollo uses his hand to cast a powerful nuclear ball, slam it to Hephaestus hammer. The collision of the almighty and fire attack has miraculously stop the heavy rain that pour down the two persona, even the tarred ground instantly turn to dry by the extreme heat from the collision. The temporary attacks end in draw, allowing the heavy rain to pour down perfectly on them.

Tatsuya and Sudou take a moment to make eye contact with each other, taking a moment to gain their stamina. Their eye contact is however interrupts when they hear a car approaching them and stop when the car find a dead end by the group of crash car. "Tatsuya, Maya, we're here!" Ulala's voice is heard from the car. Tatsuya, Maya, and Sudou turn to the car to see Katsuya, Ulala and Baofu come out of the police car. 'You stole a car, Katsuya? Well, he is my brother.' Tatsuya thought, slightly happy to see Ulala and Baofu are there as well.

"Damn you all!" Sudou screams, shifting the target of his shotgun to the three of them. "EVERYONE GET DOWN!" Katsuya scream to Ulala and Baofu. They quickly take cover behind one of the crashed car to block the shoot from Sudou. "That is Tatsuya Sudou, I know his appearance, but how is it possible for him to be here?!" Baofu ask, although it's definitely the worst time to answer that question. "Stay here!" Katsuya order them to stay on their cover as he reloads his semi-automatic pistol and shout, "Assist me, Hyperion!"

The Greek titan of light emerge from Katsuya's body, rise from their cover to distract Sudou's attention. When Sudou is distracted by Hyperion who floats high to the air, Katsuya take the opportunity to rise from his cover and shoot Sudou, the bullet land right at his left ribs. "Don't underestimate the skill of police chief! Triple Down!" Tatsuya shout as Hyperion raises both his hand and shoot hundreds of small fire bullet, successfully dealt extremely large gun damage at Sudou.

"This is our chance!" Ulala shout as she rises from her cover with Baofu and marchs straight for the injured Sudou. "I know! Prometheus!" Baofu summon his persona to attack Sudou, "Wiseman Snap!" Simultaneously by shooting a gold coin from Baofu's hand, Prometheus use his power to multiples the coin into hundreds, successfully dealt an extremely large throw attack at Sudou.

As Sudou getting weaker by the rapid damage, Maya jump on his back and choke him by the neck with her arm. "Get off me!" Sudou use all his strength to stand and is struggling to release himself from Maya's grip. He pushes himself backward to let Maya slam to one of the crashed car, but this action proved unsuccessful. Sudou eventually run to the edge of the bridge with Maya, trying to throw both of them into water.

"You piece of shit! I'll throw you into the water!" Sudou scream as he lifts his body to jump into the water with Maya. "Maya! Garudyne!" Ulala shout as she summon Astria and cast large wind damage to Sudou, pulling him back to the ground with the gust of wind, "Tatsuya, grab Maya quickly!" Tatsuya rush to them and quickly pull Maya from Sudou's back and release her from Sudou, allow him to push Sudou though the edge of the bridge. "Farewell, Sudou." Tatsuya said his last word to him and deliver a kick Sudou into the water.

"NOOOOOO!" Sudou scream as he was unable to grab on the edge of the bridge and fall right to the deep water under the bridge. Everyone finally takes a moment to calm them-selves from the tense battle. "Wait, Kandori!" Maya suddenly shout and sprint to Sudou's white van to search for someone at the driver seat, but there's no one. "Wait, Kandori? Takahisa Kandori?!" Katsuya said. "He was here besides Sudou, at the driver's seat! But he escaped!" Maya shout.

The tense atmosphere finally calm down when the rain slowly stop, leaving the five persona users to take a moment to calm themselves. Unable to find a trace of Sudou and the driver, they eventually ride the police car that were stolen by Katsuya and take their leave to meet with the others.

Aigis

Cloudy - Late Afternoon – Gekkoukan High School front gate, Tatsumi Port Island

From inside the black limousine that park at the front gate of Gekkoukan High School, Akihiko, Junpei, Yukari and Fuuka sprint and make their way to the school, leaving Aigis and Labrys inside the limousine. "Akihiko-senpai, you're still injured! You should stay in the limousine!" Fuuka said in worry when she saw Akihiko tightly hold his bleeding neck with a small towel to stop the bleeding. "I'm fine! Now get going!" Akihiko said, strongly refusing to stay back.

They make their way to the highest floor, ignoring the stares they got from the students that saw them. When they reach the door to the rooftop, they find Ms. Isako Toriumi, their former composition teacher and a group of student is standing in front of the door, seemly discussing about something.

"Ms. Toriumi, what happen here?!" Yukari ask in hurried manner to catch their attention. Ms. Toriumi turn to them and surprise to see her former student is standing in front of her. "Oh sorry, but- Huh? Takeba, Iori and Yamagishi? Even Sanada- OH MY GOD! Is that blood?!" Ms. Toriumi panicked when she saw the huge gash on Akihiko's neck as well as the other student there.

"We don't have time, please open the door, Ms. Toriumi!" Junpei reply quickly. "B-but, I can't open the door, it has been stuck since this morning!" Ms. Toriumi said in panic to see Akihiko's blood. "Out of my way, let the great Junpei Iori handle this! Haiiiiiyahhhhh!" Junpei said as he raises his feet to kick the door. The door didn't budge at all, instead Junpei scream in pain and grab his leg in agony, "AHHH! MY LEGGGG!" Everyone sweatdrop. "Let me do it!" Akihiko shout, taking a deep breath and kick the door open with his feet.

When they open the door, they can only stare in horror to see the unconscious Mitsuru is being tied up to one of the bench, even her mouth was covered by tape. She still wears the same cloth from last night, indicates that she was kidnapped the night before. But most of all, a rather big time bomb is tied to her stomach, with the time limit of…2: 09.

"Evacuate the school immediately!" Yukari order Ms. Toriumi, "Take as many as you can outside the school!" "O-O-Okay, I-I'll do it!" Ms. Toriumi trembles in fear, but still manages to find the strength to run downstairs with a few students. "Another bomb?! It only got two minute left, what are we suppose to do?!" Junpei scream in panic. "We're not leaving Mitsuru behind!" Yukari said as she turns to Fuuka, "Fuuka, can you do something to stop the bomb?"

"I'll do what I can!" Fuuka respond, taking out a small scissors from her pocket and quickly rush to Mitsuru and check the bomb.

1:34…

"Mitsuru, can you hear me?!" Akihiko call for Mitsuru as he removes the tape from her mouth and the rope from her hand. "Please don't move her body, I can't concentrate!" Fuuka said, removing the cover of the bomb to see piles of wire with different color inside.

0:58…

"Hurry up, it's gonna explode!" Junpei scream, becomes more and more panic. "Shut up, Stupei! Fuuka can't focus if you keep screaming like that! Now you are making me panic!" Yukari scold him, even though she realizes that she's shivering in fear.

0:19…

"I cut the first wire, only two left!" Fuuka said.

0:11…

"One more!"

0:07…

0:05…

0:03…

0:02…

0:0-

Snap! A sound of wire being cut and the sound of the bomb stop permanently. Only one second left before the bomb goes off and explodes. "Oh thank god!" Junpei drop himself to the ground in extreme relieve as well as the other. "…Huh?…Where…where am I?" Mitsuru slowly regain her consciousness by the voice of her friends.

"Mitsuru-senpai, are you alright?" Fuuka ask Mitsuru who slowly open her eye. "Yamagishi? Where…wait, how did we come here?" Mitsuru ask in confusion. "You don't remember anything at all?" Akihiko ask, but Mitsuru just shook her head in respond, clutching her head that has a stained blood behind her red hair. "You're hurt, Mitsuru, we need to get you treat first!" Yukari said, slowly removing the disarmed time bomb from her body and lift her.

The police arrive 10 minutes later at the school, they send a bomb specialist to carefully carry the bomb and take it somewhere safer. The news about the bomb at Paulownia Mall and Gekkoukan High School spread like wild fire to the other town, giving Mitsuru a hard time dealing with the media.

Mitsuru is rushed to Tatsumi Memorial hospital with Akihiko. What surprises the Shadow Operative is that Tatsuya's group, Naoya's group and the Investigation Team is there currently reside at the hospital as well, getting treated for their injury. Each group is having their own private room, Naoya Group's room, Tatsuya Group's room, the Shadow Operative's room and the Investigation Team's room. While they're having their check up, they also take their time to know each other before deciding a second meeting when they realize that the mystery about the Four Horsemen has grow deeper with today incident.

In the first room, Naoya is again in his usual attitude, so different that his friend thought that the battle with Nyarlathotep was probably the last time they see Naoya being deadly serious. When his friend ask him about what he know about Four Horsemen and his sudden rage, he just shrug and walk away to avoid the question.

In the other room, never have Tatsuya see his wife so happy before, even with all her injuries. While Tatsuya put a medicine on Maya's red cheeks cause by Adachi's punch, she keeps on asking him about what he remember about the 'other side' and 'this side'. Tatsuya explain the detail to Maya, Katsuya, Ulala and Baofu that he is not actually Tatsuya from the 'other side', but rather only having the memory of it as Tatsuya from 'this side'. However, Maya didn't think it can change her lovely husband from who he is.

In the third room, Akihiko is busy interrogating Mitsuru about what happen to her the night before. She explain that she went to the Kirijo main facility last night to finish her document for Apollo's concert, but was hit by someone with a metal pole, knocking her out. She only regain her consciousness from the hit when she's at the rooftop, she also didn't remember anything about the bomb being put on her. The Shadow Operative decides to discuss further in the next meeting with Nanjo, leaving her to rest for today.

In the last room, Nanako is crying nonstop at Yu's chest beside his friends, Yu simply pats her head to comfort her, ignoring her tears that already wetting his cloth.

"B-big bro…" Nanako said while sobbing.

"Don't worry Nanako-chan, Yu-kun is strong, he will recover in no time!" Chie said while patting Nanako's back.

"Chie-chan is correct Nanako, your big bro right here is currently equipping Thor, damage like these are nothing!" Yu said triumphly.

"Yu! This is no time for jokes!"Chie said, although she is clearly amused by the statement. "Here….." Chie said while raising a chopstick with a piece of steak on it. "Let me feed you…"

"Eh? I thought you like steak, you sure you wanna give it to me?" Yu said jokingly.

"Arghh! J-just eat it y-you dummy!" Chie said while blushing. She quickly shoves the food in Yu's mouth, shutting him from saying anything more.

While this happens, the others are busy talking about Strife's word about Marie's safeness. Margaret is there, but she is currently being asked by Aigis who came from Mitsuru's room to personally ask Margaret about the 'piece' that Nyarlathotep mention at the Mall. Margaret only shook her head, unable to answer her with the limited knowledge of Wild Card and Nyarlathotep. Margaret can only suggest Aigis to personally meet Igor herself later to know more about the 'piece' in Minato's Wild Card.

The day finally close to evening, everyone decide to arrange the second meeting for the day after, as everyone are too tired from the battle they had today. Mitsuru agree to let the Investigation Team to sleep in their dorm for one night. Nanjo had book a hotel for the entire group of Naoya and Tatsuya, waiting for tomorrow to discuss about the incident for today. And thus, the night time arrive…

A/N: The mystery about Four Horsemen has grown deeper again. In this chapter, I decide to make some improvement for the battle scene, unlike the previous battle I wrote. But of course, I'm REAAAALLLY SUCK at making battle scene, so I'm truly sorry if you find it very terrible or uninteresting. From now on, I will put a description every time a new persona or shadow appears. I even put some new skill for some persona users to make my battle scene more interesting. Don't be confuse with the damage level, heavy=large, extremely largelarge, severe=massive.

Nanjo's ultimate persona is actually his former butler, who died protecting him in Megami Ibunroku Persona (weird, right?). I decide not to use him for now, maybe I save it for later battle. About the 'piece' or the 'butterfly' that Nyarlathotep mention to be inside Aigis…better take note to that, that so called 'piece' is going to be so damn important in this story. About the 'driver' in the white van, he may not appear for the time being.